Defining display body constraints

You can create a display body constraint by selecting a part instance that will be displayed but will not be included in the analysis. You can constrain the display body to be fixed in space, or you can constrain it to follow selected nodes in the assembly. You can apply a display body constraint to any part instance in the model. For more information, see Display body definition. In addition, you can control the appearance of display bodies in the Visualization module; for more information, see Customizing the appearance of display bodies. For an example of a model that includes a display body constraint combined with connectors, see Display bodies.”

Related Topics
Display bodies
Understanding constraints
The Reference Point toolset
In Other Guides
Rigid body definition

  1. From the main menu bar, select ConstraintCreate.

    Tip: You can also create a display body constraint using the tool in the Interaction module toolbox.

  2. In the Create Constraint dialog box that appears, do the following:

    1. Name the constraint. For more information about naming objects, see Using basic dialog box components.
    2. From the Type list, select Display body; then click Continue.

  3. Select the part instance that will be a display body.

    The constraint editor appears.

  4. By default, the part instance is fixed; alternatively, you can constrain it to follow selected points in the assembly. From the Motion control field of the constraint editor, choose one of the following:

    No motion

    Choose No motion to fix the selected part instance in space during the analysis. This is the default option.

    Follow single point

    Choose Follow single point, click , and select the point to which the part instance will be constrained. You must select the point from a different part instance, and that part instance must not be a display body. During the analysis the display body will follow the translations and rotations of the selected point.

    Follow three points

    Choose Follow three points, click , and select the three points to which the part instance will be constrained. You must select the points from a different part instance, and that part instance must not be a display body. During the analysis the display body will follow the translations and rotations of the coordinate system defined by the selected points. The first point indicates the origin of the coordinate system, the second point indicates the X-direction, and the third point indicates the X–Y plane. The points should be non-colinear and should remain non-colinear during the analysis.

  5. Click OK to save your constraint definition and to close the editor.